Assoilzie is a Scottish legal term with a unique spelling that can be difficult to understand phonetically. The word is pronounced /əˈsɔɪlzi/ and means to absolve or acquit someone of a crime. The "s" in the middle of the word is pronounced like a "z" sound, and the emphasis is on the second syllable. While the spelling of Assoilzie may seem daunting, it is an important term in Scottish law and is still used in legal proceedings today.
Assoilzie is a term with its origins in Scottish and English law, primarily used in Scottish legal practices. This verb carries a specific meaning of absolving or acquitting an individual from a charge or accusation brought against them. It refers to the act of clearing someone of blame or guilt in a legal or moral sense.
In legal contexts, assoilzie often involves the discharge or dropping of charges against an accused person in a court of law. This can occur when new evidence is produced that exonerates the individual or when it is determined that there is not enough evidence to support the accusation beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant is then said to be "assoilzied" from the charges, effectively absolved of any legal wrongdoing.
Beyond its legal application, assoilzie can also metaphorically refer to forgiving or pardoning someone for their actions. It implies the act of releasing someone from blame, censure, or guilt, often in a moral or ethical context. Consequently, the term encompasses the idea of offering forgiveness or absolution, granting someone a clean slate, and allowing them to move forward without negative consequences or repercussions.
Overall, assoilzie denotes the act of clearing someone from a charge, absolving them from guilt, or forgiving them for their actions, both in the realm of law and in a broader sense of forgiveness and moral release.
In Scots law, to free one accused from a charge; to find a criminal not guilty; to set at liberty.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "assoilzie" is derived from Middle English, specifically from the Old French term "assouldre". It ultimately traces back to the Latin word "absolvere", meaning "to absolve" or "to free from blame". In English, the term "assoilzie" originally meant "to absolve" or "to acquit" someone, particularly in a legal or religious context. It is primarily used in Scottish and Northern English dialects.